Seed Technology: An Introduction

Dr.Mukesh Kumar
 Seed Technology: An Introduction
“Seed Technology is a science dealing with the
methods of improving genetic and physical
characteristics of seeds.”
Study of Seed Technology is necessary for two
reasons :
Firstly, the introduction of hybrids and high
yielding varieties of crop plants of huge economic
importance has necessitated great care in the
maintenance and preservation of the seed, if the high
quality which the plant breeders have synthesized in
these new hybrids/varieties is to be effected in an
improved source of food, feed or fibre or all three.
 Introduction contd…
Secondly, if seed production is to evolve as a prime
enterprise, instead of a by-product as it has been
characteristically handled down through the centuries.
The development of seed enterprise is absolutely
necessary in the context of modern agriculture.
It is one of the quickest ways of increasing
agriculture production through coverage of larger
acreages under high yielding varieties, assured plant
stands and healthy crops, ultimately leading to
bumper harvests.
Much of our success in increasing food production has
been due to the development of seed enterprise over
the past decades. However, much remains to be done.
Seed demand at present is strong, unsatisfied, and
expected to continue expanding.
In the light of most important developments (National
Seed Programme), India is now embarked on the
development of a first class seed industry which the
country needs the farmers deserve.
One of the most vital keys to success in our endeavour
to build up a first class seed industry in the country is
to maintain a large cadre of well-trained and
competent technologists.
 Introduction contd…
Concentrated efforts, therefore, must be made to
impart necessary training amongst agricultural
graduates/postgraduates by including it as a subject
in the undergraduate/postgraduate curricula of
agricultural Universities as suggested by the National
Commission on Agriculture.
As per the Vth Dean,s Committee Recommendations
this course Principals of Seed Technology(AGP 221)
is recommended by the committee for B.Sc.Ag.
(Hons.) degree in agricultural Universities.
 Introduction contd…
The history of agriculture progress from the early
days of man has been the history of seeds of new
crops and crop varieties brought under cultivation.
In the early days it was achieved through the
cultivation of indigenous but useful plants and those
taken through introductions.
Selection of superior types from cultivated plants
constituted the next stage of progress.
In the course of time many useful selections were
made and there was gradual but steady/sound
progress in crop improvement.
 Introduction contd…
Later, through the use of well-known techniques of
selection, hybridization and polyploidisation the
scientists made available many new and better varieties.
However, the pace of progress remained slow for a
long time.
It was only during the mid sixties that a revolution
took place in our concept of yield potential; of the major
cereals and millets due to discovery of morphological
factors such as the dwarfing influence and the response
of self-fertilised crops like rice and wheat to increased
doses of fertilizers.
 Introduction contd…
Similarly in cross-fertilised crops, the exploitation
of hybrid vigour became the basis for making
significant advances in yield.
The introduction, development and release of dwarf
varieties of rice and wheat and hybrids of maize,
jowar and bajra have helped to raise the sights as
regards yield possibilities and consequently have
stimulated interest among the farming community in
a new agronomy resolving around the cultivation of
high yielding varieties.
However, to the farmer all this scientific research
would be of little value unless he gets seeds, which
are genetically pure (true to type) and possess other
desired qualities namely, high germination
percentage and vigour, high purity, sound health,
etc.
When the farmers do not get seeds possessing these
qualities the yields the yields they obtain may not be
as expected.
Only seeds with assured quality can be expected to
respond to fertilizers and other inputs in the
expected manner.
There is yet another aspect of the
importance of good seed.
Among the inputs used by farmers,
seed is the cheapest. It is a basic input
and forms only a small part of the total
cultivation expenses.
Yet, without good seed the investment
on fertilizer, irrigation, pesticides and
other inputs will not pay the required
dividends.
Since it is a biological industry, good
agriculture depends upon good seed
and vice versa. One cannot exist or
advance without the other.
The pace of progress in food
production, therefore, will largely
depend upon the speed with which we
are able to multiply and market good
quality seeds of high yielding varieties.
 Concept of Seed Technology
The distinction between seed and grain is vital,
being of seminal importance to agriculture.
A seed, strictly speaking, is an “embryo”, a
living organism embedded in the supporting or
the food storage tissue.
The business of Seed Technology is to protect
this biological entity and look after its ‘welfare’,
while the focus of Food Technology is on the
second component-the supporting tissue.
 Difference Between Seed and Grain
A seed, stands for any of the following used for
sowing or planting.
Seeds of food crops including edible oil seeds
and seeds of fruit and vegetables.
Cotton seeds
Seeds of cattle fodder
Jute seeds
Seedlings, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, roots,
cuttings, all types of grafts and other
vegetatively propagated material for food crops
or cattle fodder.
 Difference Between Seed and Grain contd…
Definition of Seed
“The seed pertains to material (seed,
fruit or vegetatively propagating
material) meant for sowing/planting
purposes.”
The essential function of seed is
reproduction.
 Difference Between Scientifically Produced Seed
and the Grain (Used as Seed)
Scientifically Produced Seed Grain (Used as Seed)

1. It is the result of well planned seed It is the part of commercial

programme. produce, saved for
sowing/planting purposes.
2. It is the result of sound scientific No such knowledge or effort is
knowledge, organized effort, investment required.
on processing, storage and marketing
facilities.

3. The pedigree of the seed is ensured. It Its varietal purity is unknown.

can be related to the initial breeders
seed.

4. During production effort is made to No such effort is made. Hence,

rogue out off types, diseased plants, the purity and health status
objectionable weeds and other crop may be inferior.
plants at appropriate stages of crop
growth which ensures satisfactory seed
purity and health.
 Scientifically Produced Seed Grain (Used as Seed)

5. The seed is scientifically processed, The grain used as seed may be

treated and packed and labeled with manually cleaned. In some cases,
proper lot identity. prior to sowing it may also be
treated. This is not labeled.

Routine seed testing is not done.

6. The seed is tested for planting quality,
namely, germination, purity admixture of
weed seeds and other crop seeds, seed There is no quality control.
health and seed moisture content.
7. The seed quality is usually supervised by
an agency not related with production No such standards apply here.
(Seed Certification agency). The quality is non descript and
8. The seed has to essentially meet the not known.
“Quality Standards”. The quality is
therefore is well known.
9. The labels/certification tags on the seed
containers serves as quality marks.
 The seed, when scientifically produced (such as
under seed certification) is distinctly superior in
terms of seed quality, namely, improved variety,
varietal purity, freedom from admixtures of
weeds and other crop seeds, seed health, high
germination and vigour, seed treatment and
safe moisture content etc.
 Seeds quality and expected performance is
known.
 A grain, on the other hand, includes cereals and
pulses, meant for human consumption.
 Seed Quality
Seed Quality Characteristics
Improved Variety
Genetic Purity
Physical purity
Seed Germination and Vigour
Planting value
Freedom from Weeds and Other Crop Seeds
Seed Health
Other Characteristics :
-Seed Size, Weight and Specific gravity
- Seed Colour
 Improved Variety
 The variety must be truly superior than
existing ones.

 It must be the latest and the best variety

suited to the area in regard to production
potential and other desirable
characteristics.
 Genetic Purity
 Genetic purity of seeds refers to the trueness to type.
 If the seed possesses all the genetic qualities that
breeder has placed in the variety, it is said to be
genetically pure.
 The genetic purity has direct effect on ultimate yields.
 If there is any deterioration in the genetic make up of
the variety during seed multiplication and distribution
cycle, there would definitely be proportionate decrease
in its performance e.g. yield, disease resistance, etc.
 It is, therefore, necessary to ensure genetic purity
during production cycles.
 Physical Purity
 Physical purity of a seed lot refers to the physical
composition of seed lots.
 A seed lot is composed of pure seeds-the seeds of
same kind, inert matter, broken grains less than
half in size, soil and dust particles, chaff etc., weed
seeds and other crop seeds.
 Higher the content of pure seed the better would
be the seed quality.
 Pure seed considered together with seed
germination determine the planting value of the
seed.
 Seed Germination and Vigour
“Seed germination refers to the ability of a seed
when planted under normal sowing conditions to
give rise to a normal seedling”.
“The seed vigour refers to the sum total of all the
attributes that gives effective plant stand in the
field”.
 High germination percentage and vigour results
into raising of an excellent crop having adequate
plant population and uniform growth.
 High germination percentage and vigour have
profound effect upon the ultimate yield and also
determines the planting value of the seed.
 Planting Value
“Planting value is the real worth of a seed lot for raising the
crop”.
 Planting value is determined by calculating pure live seed
percentage as follows:

Pure Seed % Germination %

Pure Live Seed (P.L.S.) = 100
100 100
 Freedom from Weeds and
Other Crop Seeds
 This is an extension of the physical purity.
 There are certain species of weeds which are very
harmful to the cause of agriculture in general such
as perennial species and such species which once
established are difficult to eradicate.
 Absolute freedom from seeds of such species is
highly desirable and is one of the important
criterion of determining planting quality of seeds.
 Seed Health
“The health of the seed refers to the
presence or absence of disease
organisms/insect pests on seeds”.

The quality of a seed lot very much

depends on its health.
 Seed Moisture
The seed moisture is the most critical factor
in the maintenance of seed germination and
viability during storage.

The seed must be dried to safe moisture

content.
 Other Characteristics
a) Seed size, weight and specific gravity
 The seed size, weight and specific gravity
has been found to have positive correlation
with seed germination and vigour in many
crops.
 The seed lots having smaller seeds, lower
specific gravity or hundred seed weight may
perform poorly when compared with lots
having higher specific gravity and hundred
seed weight.
 b)Seed Colour
 The colour of seeds often reflects the
conditions during seed maturation.
 Good normal colour and shine have been
regarded as invaluable quality guides by the
farmers from the time immemorial.
 The colour of seed and shine deteriorate
only when the whether conditions are
adverse during maturation, the crop is
infested by insects and or when he seed has
been handled badly.
 Concept of Seed Quality
“Seed quality is the degree of excellence in
regard to the characteristics referred to
previous slides that determines the seed
quality”.
 If the seed lots posses high genetic purity and
germination percentage and a minimum of
inert, weed and other crop seeds and are free
from diseases, it is said to have high quality.
 If it is lacking in any of these, it is said to be
of low quality.
 Concept of Seed Quality contd….

 Generally, the standards fixed for

certified seeds are considered quality
standards.

 It implies that if a seed lot meets the

certification standard, it is good
quality seed and if it does not meet the
certification standards, it is obviously
of a lower seed quality.
 Definitions of Seed Technology
 Cowan (1973) identified Seed Technology as
“that discipline of study having to do with
seed production, maintenance, quality and
preservation.”
 Feistritzer (1975) defined Seed Technology as
the methods through which the genetic and
physical characteristics of the seeds could be
improved. It involves such activities as
variety development, evaluation and release,
seed production, processing, storage and
certification.
 Thus, Seed Technology is essentially an
interdisciplinary science which encompasses
a broad range of subjects.
 In broadest sense “Seed Technology
includes the development of superior crop
plant varieties, their evaluation and release,
seed production, seed processing, seed
storage, seed testing, seed certification, seed
quality control, seed marketing and
distribution and research on seed
physiology, seed production and seed
handling based upon modern botanical and
agricultural sciences.
 In narrow sense “Seed Technology
comprises techniques of seed
production, seed processing, seed
storage, seed testing and certification,
seed marketing and distribution and
the related research on these aspects.”
 Role of Seed Technology
Feistritzer (1975) outlined the following roles
of improved seed:
carrier of new technologies.
basic tool for secured food supply.
the principal means to secure crop yields
in less favourable production areas.
a medium for rapid rehabilitation of
agriculture in cases of natural disaster.
 Improved Seed – a carrier of
new Technology
The introduction of quality seeds of new
varieties wisely combined with other inputs
significantly increase yield levels.
It is evident from the several examples in
cereals and in other crops that the
introduction of seeds of new varieties raises
the effects of traditional inputs and increase
their ultimate consumption as well.
Improved Seed – a basic tool for
secured food supply
The successful implementation of the high
yielding varieties programme in India has led
to a remarkable increase in production and
to a new assessment of future development
potential.
As a result, food imports from other
countries have been substantially brought
down in spite of the rapid population
increase.
 Improved Seed – the principal
means to secure crop yields in
less favourable areas of
production
The supply of good quality seeds of
improved varieties suitable to these
areas is one of the few important
immediate contribution that Seed
technology can make to secure higher
crop yields.
 Improved Seed – a medium for
rehabilitation of agriculture in cases
of natural disaster
Widespread floods and droughts in various
parts of the country and elsewhere have focused
attention on these recurrent crises and the
accompanying threats of famine and starvation.
The relief operations by F.A.O. show that it
would be much more economical if the
governments had National Seed Reserve Stocks
at their disposal.
 Improved Seed – a medium for rehabilitation of agriculture in cases of natural disaster contd….

The establishment of National Seed Reserve

Stocks should receive high priority for
meeting such natural calamities.
National Seed Stocks would have a twofold
role to play :
1.They would provide improved seeds in
emergency periods to production areas for
rapid production of food grains.
2.They would supply seeds to disaster regions
for resowing, as no seed would normally be
available in such regions.
Goals of Seed Technology
The major goal of Seed Technology is
to increase agricultural production
through the spread of good quality
seeds of high yielding varieties. It aims
at the following :
 Rapid multiplication
 Timely supply
 Assured high quality of seeds
 Reasonable price
 Rapid Multiplication
Increase in agriculture production through
quickest possible spread of new varieties
developed by the plant breeders.
The time taken to make available the
desired quantities of seeds of improved
varieties to farmers should be considered as
a measure of efficiency and adequacy in the
development of Seed Technology in the
country.
 Timely supply
The improved seeds of new varieties must be
made available well in time, so that the planting
schedule of farmer is not disturbed and they are
able to use good seed for planting purposes.
Assured high quality of seeds
This is necessary to obtain the expected dividends
from the use of seeds of improved varieties.
Reasonable price
The cost of high quality seed should be within
reach of the average farmer.
 Opportunities for Well
Trained Seed Technologists
 Management of Seed Enterprise (Govt./Semi
Govt. Undertakings and Private Seed
Companies)
 Seed Testing Laboratories
 Seed Certification Agencies
 Seed Law Enforcement Agencies
 Training/Extension Centres (for Seed growers)
 Research Institutes (where Seed Technology
research is being done)